2001 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
NHTSA has received 44 complaints about the 2001 GMC Sierra 3500, and 36% of them involve brakes. After that come fuel system (25%) and engine (18%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 44 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 62,000 miles 35 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 35 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 62,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 61,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the GMC Sierra 3500 with enough data (22 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was involved in a crash where I think the brakes on my 2001 GMC sierra failed to stop my vehicle in time. I rear-ended a pickup truck, which hit a toyota, which then hit a jeep. I know there has been a recall on ABS front wheel speed sensors, yet my VIN was not included in the recall. NHTSA should force GM to recall all trucks, regardeless of location, and have the ABS system properly fixed (not just clean the sensors!!).
I was standing on the tailgate of my 2001 GMC k3500 preparing to unload my new refridgerator when the cables snapped. This caused me to fall back down on the steps to my front porch. I have bean having mid to upper back and neck problems since this happened. I have began seeing a chiropractor and a acupuncturist in order to keep going to work.
The truck has low mileage for it's age but it 3 times starting in 2005 it has caught fire in and around the battery/alternator. I've given GMC multiple times to fix the problem but it just happened again. It happened on the highway at first and it happened in my driveway the other day.
Dt: the contact stated there was rust on the ABS sensor on the front axle. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, and they took the front hubs off and cleaned out the rust. The two ABS sensors were also replaced. The vehicle was working properly at this time. There was recall, 05v379000, and this consumer experienced the same failure. According to general motors, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The rotors were replacd due to rust. Updated 11/29/05.
Sold me a "good running vehicle" that the fuel system failed cause engine to shutdown, caused no braking, vehicle pulled out of center do to steering components, no safety belts in rear of vehicle